title: Oval and round window vibroplasty: a comparison of hearing results, risks and failures.
abstract: The aim of this study was to compare oval and round window vibroplasty. Eighteen (18) patients implanted with Vibrant Soundbridge (VSB) were enrolled. Two groups were formed depending on FMT placement: on round window in ten cases (RW group) and on oval window in eight (OW group). Pre and postoperative audiological tests were performed both under headphones and free-field settings, VSB on and off. One (1) RW patient experienced sudden hearing loss at the operated side after 4 months from surgery and was excluded from the analysis. Both groups showed good hearing results. Significant differences were measured at free-field pure-tone test with VSB on at 0.5 kHz (RW better than OW, p = 0.026) and 4 kHz (OW better than RW, p = 0.043). Both techniques share similar good results and are considered safe. However, we had one failure with deep and sudden hearing threshold worsening after some months of good results. From a surgical point of view OW vibroplasty is easier and safer to perform, when the stapes suprastructure is absent, as it does not require any drilling and should be preferred in such cases. More reports are needed to explain if RW vibroplasty is risky in a mid to long term.
authors.affiliation: ENT Department, San Giovanni Battista Hospital, University of Torino, Via Genova, 3, 10100, Turin, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Canale
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dagna
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cassandro
authors.forename: Pamela
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Giordano
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Caranzano
authors.forename: Michelangelo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lacilla
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Albera
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001301:Audiometry, Pure-Tone; D004432:Ear, Middle / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D006314:Hearing Loss, Conductive / Q000601:surgery; D046089:Hearing Loss, Mixed Conductive-Sensorineural / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019933:Ossicular Replacement; D010046:Oval Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D012405:Round Window, Ear / Q000601:surgery*; D013069:Speech Reception Threshold Test; D016896:Treatment Outcome